A ditch bag (also called an emergency grab bag) is a waterproof, pre-packed bag containing essential signal and survival gear that sailors take with them if they need to abandon ship.

It is important to consider the logistics of an emergency that would require abandoning ship, and ensure you thoroughly discuss the protocol with your crew. Everyone aboard should be familiar with the procedure and capable of executing it efficiently (avoid making your ditch bag too heavy for the weakest crew member to lift). Select a waterproof bag and attach a carabiner to the strap so you can quickly secure it to the tether of your life raft and safely transport it from your vessel. Additionally, keep an empty waterproof bag in an easily accessible place in case there’s time to grab extra gear or valuables. We’ve heard of someone who had time to make his entire crew sandwiches before abandoning ship!

Before packing your ditch bag, take note of the contents already in your life raft. Ours includes some food, water, a bail and patch kit, flares, and oars. When packing your ditch bag, focus on including items that will aid visibility and support survival until rescue. Here’s what we carry in ours:

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Documents 

• Copy of all crew members’ passports/IDs 
• Copy of boat’s Certificate of Documentation 
• Proof of boat insurance 
• Crew medical information (proof of repatriation/medevac/health insurance, list of allergies and prescriptions)
• List of emergency contact numbers (family, friends, etc.)

Visibility

• Dye markers: can turn up to a 50-foot area of water neon green
• Industrial grade ultra-bright 12hr glow sticks
• Signal flares (day and night)
• Flashlight (with extra batteries)
• Air horn
• Emergency signal mirror 

Survival gear

• Emergency food rations: look for something with a long shelf life, easily digestible, and non-thirst-provoking. 
• Water: bottles, packets, jugs, or bladders—whatever you have! 
• Survival kit: Ours includes fishing gear, emergency blankets, a knife, fire starter, whistle, wire saw, and several multitools.
• UPF 50+ sun protection shirts: Ray’s wardrobe is mostly navy blue/black, and mine is primarily bikinis, so we keep two neon orange sun shirts in our ditch bag for UV protection and maximum visibility in case of an emergency.
• Hand warmers and additional clothing if sailing in colder climates.
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Lip Balm
• Sunglasses 
• Rain ponchos
• Prescription medication (if needed)
• Motion sickness medication 
• First aid kit in waterproof case
• Duct tape
• Paracord, rope
• Hand sanitizer
• One can of fruit cocktail: It has been a running joke aboard Sabado that if we’re opening a can of fruit cocktail, things have gone horribly wrong. So, our ditch bag seems like a fitting place to keep one.
• Deck of waterproof playing cards to help pass the time.

We also carry an EPIRB, Iridium GO!, Garmin inReach, and handheld VHF radio aboard Sabado, which we would use in an emergency, but we do not store those items in our ditch bag. 

Stay safe out there, folks!